Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Mathletics on The Hill

By Matt Golenor, Chair of MBA’s Math Department

Every year, the Big Red Mathletes compete at the local, state, and national level with great success. Even though the squads completely turn over each year, our boys always perform at the top of the pack. Of course, there are very strong math students all around, and MBA does not have an exclusive hold on talent, so how is it possible that we achieve so much success? What makes an MBA Mathlete, anyway? I ask myself these questions every year as our boys consistently outperform a continually deep pool of talented students from all over. There are many reasons for our success, but three in particular come to mind

First of all, MBA students are competitive. Having a competitive spirit is not exclusive to athletics. All MBA students compete every day. When boys gain admission to MBA, they know they are entering a community that strives to be the best we can. Our boys love to work hard and are goal-oriented. Striving for excellence in academics, music, art, athletics, debate, fellowship, service, and many other elements is part of our school culture. Maybe there is not a huge crowd watching, but for our Mathletes, math contests are a way to compete for the school.

Secondly, MBA celebrates the passions of all students. At MBA, everything that students pursue is important and recognized. The general public may read about athletic teams or National Merit Scholars, but the school community goes much deeper. We value all pursuits. At MBA, being a player in the Ellington Band is just as cool as being a football player. The triumphs of the Microbe Debate Team are valued as much as the success of our Varsity Tennis Team. In that kind of community, math competitions are deemed as important as any other pursuit, so the students are empowered with the confidence to strive.

Lastly, MBA has an unbelievably talented and supportive faculty. Our teachers challenge our boys and drive them to be their best. This spirit of continual growth in all departments helps motivate our Mathletes to avoid complacency. Having such a well-rounded, demanding academic experience arms our students with the ability to think critically from multiple angles. This skill is crucial to performing in math competitions. In addition, our teachers and coaches realize that competitive academic pursuits are important to the boys and to the school. Often students will forgo afternoon athletic practice to attend contests.

Now that the die has been cast, I believe that we can safely say that MBA Mathletics has a strong and bright future. Thanks to the leadership of the teachers and administrators, MBA has a powerful culture of excellence embraced by the students. Our Mathletes are challenged, supported, and encouraged to engage in difficult situations and persevere. With such a large net of hard-working and talented students, clearly MBA Mathletics will continue to be a source of pride and honor.



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